1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

No Christian can fight their way through the great darkness of this world, of sin, and of temptation as an individual unit. Every saint that makes their life count for the kingdom of Christ and for our eternal goal will do so because of the power of Christian companionship. This little book, which may be the first of all Christian letters written, begins by linking the effectiveness of our faith with being part of a community of believers. Two misguided and toxic misunderstandings of community that appear too commonly are casualness and shallowness. In the one, we may feel that membership or attendance is enough. In the second, we act as if comradeship or our conviviality is all we need.. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are in an ongoing prayer group, a large part of which is prayer for the Thessalonian Christians for the faithfulness of the ministry of the church. These were not three friends occasionally having coffee and a time of sharing. They were engaged with the church enough to know what was happening and to pray about it specifically.

In verses 3 to 5 we see the effect of the message of the Gospel. It's changed their lives, their hearts, and their minds, but here again we see that this did not happen in isolation. In verses 6 & 7 we find that these early Christians patterned their lives after that of their teachers. This church was born out of and into hardship. The people of these congregations were well aware of Paul's suffering, and that, no doubt, gave them a pattern for how to endure. How do we grow in our knowledge of Christian living? A large part of that must be seeing it lived out in relationship. The ability, willingness, or permission to talk openly and honestly about our successes, struggles, failures, and victories is essential. Some feel that such openness and transparency are inappropriate for the community of faith. Paul would disagree. This was an effective church in part because they were an example to other believers near and far. Every believer that is not a part of a community of faith is a shadow of what they could possibly be. And there is little chance they will ever become more.

“Lord, draw me into a deep relationship with other believers.  AMEN”